freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honoroperation renew honor freedom valor heroes

2015 A n n u a l R e p o r tW a r M e m o r i a l C e n t e r

Peter P. PochowskiChairman Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association

Andrew J. Schlidt III Vice-Chairman Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

Toni HollandSecretary Time Warner Cable

Michael BalistriereTreasurer Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Ted J. BarthelWhyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

George J. Gaspar Retired

Ethan D. LenzFoley & Lardner LLP

Leo C. Lesch Waddell & Reed, Inc.

Creamheld PepitoNorthwestern Mutual

Michael N. Pierce Colonel USAF, Retired

Gwen Sheppard Major USAF, Retired

Lynn Sprangers Mount Mary University

John Weishan, Jr. Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors

David J. DrentExecutive Director War Memorial Center

War Memorial Center

Milwaukee County War Memorial, Inc.750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202warmemorialcenter.org

Board of Trustees Vietnam War Commemoration:

50 Years Later The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War

Musical Event on Fitch Plaza

August 4, 2016Save the date to meet the authors of

We Gotta Get Out of This Place Two UW-Madison professors explore how and why U.S. troops turned to music as

a way of connecting to each other and the world back home.

O O O O O O O O O O O O O

Board members who retired during 2015Michael M. Berzowski, Weiss Berzowski BradyRicard T. Vallin, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.Bill Christofferson, RetiredMatthew J. Flynn, Quarles & BradyJacqueline Herd-Barber, Community VolunteerStan Kogutkiewicz, Retired

War Memorial Center

We began the year with construction in full swing on Veterans Courtyard thanks to the generous support of so many during phase I of our $1.5 million Operation Renew campaign. On March 25, which is national Medal of Honor Day, we celebrated the renaming of the street in front of the War Memorial as Gary G. Wetzel Medal of Honor Way. The Vietnam veteran and Milwaukee County resident is one of only 79 living Medal of Honor recipients. A new granite marker and street sign will now stand in his honor at the WMC.

On May 29, 2015, a beautifully renovated Veterans Courtyard was rededicated and presented to the Milwaukee community. Citizens and businesses joined together to restore and renovate this iconic building for the community - both citizens and veterans alike. We thank the Bradley Foundation, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, and Albert O. Nicholas for their significant contributions to make that day possible.

The renovated Veterans Courtyard has several new features: a stunning rebuilt Eternal Flame, granite Ring of Honor, courtyard flagpole and—for the first time since the Vietnam War— names were added to the Honor Roll. There are now 3,481 names of Milwaukee County residents killed in action engraved in granite around the Eternal Flame. A stunning reminder that freedom isn’t free; and that we must tell the stories of those no longer able to speak for themselves. We owe them at least that much.

The War Memorial Board of Trustees saw major transition in 2015. In March, we accepted with regret the retirement of our Chairman of the Board, General Michael Berzowski, who carried us through our darkest and most difficult days. We thank him for his tireless service to WMC. In April, a new Executive Committee was sworn in with Peter Pochowski taking the lead as chairman.

Our annual 3rd of July Fireworks Dinner was a huge success with more than 1,500 people enjoying the best seats in the entire city. The expansion to Fitch Plaza allows us to

accommodate even more guests for this beloved event. September was an especially busy month. Our annual Remember 9/11 schedule included a morning and a new evening ceremony. We also held our first annual War Memorial Golf Outing sponsored by The Stone on KK. For the first time, we participated in Doors Open Milwaukee which attracted more than 700 visitors to our open house over two days.

October brought us our first adult education program event featuring author/WWII veteran Eugene Schulz, a member of Patton’s Army. In November, our Veterans Story Project was featured on Channel 10’s MPTV. The advance showing of the video was presented at the WMC to many of those vets who were featured in the documentary. We closed the year as we always do with the Pearl Harbor Ceremony on December 7th. For the year we had 902 events and 133,000 visitors.

For 2016, our plans include more major renovation and new memorials dedicated to General Douglas MacArthur and our nation’s POW/MIA’s. We will also continue to build our educational programing. Our new education coordinator is working to develop and grow programs for students, scouts and adults. We will keep you posted as these exciting initiatives are accomplished (sign up for our e-newsletter!), but please visit us and see for yourself as we continue to grow as Milwaukee County’s Cultural Center for Patriotism.

This is YOUR War Memorial Center. Cherish it. Enjoy it. Support it.

Dear War Memorial Center Stakeholder: It’s a new day at the War Memorial Center.

Peter P. Pochowski

WMC Chairman of the Board

David Drent, Executive Director

Milwaukee County War Memorial

VIP Tour: WMC Executive Director Dave Drent with retired Admiral Michael Mullen, who served as 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and retired Vice Admiral Dirk Debbink.

Honor Roll: For the first time since the Vietnam War, names of Milwaukee County residents killed in action are added. 3,481 names are now listed.

Veterans Story Project: WWII nurse Pinky Behlen visits the WMC to be interviewed for the Veterans Story Project.

9/11 Standing for the Fallen: This first time event brought together first responders, members of the military and the community to remember for a 9/11 Tribute. 343 helmets held the names of those firefighters who died that day.

Korean War Posters: Korean War veteran Ron Ziolecki checks out the new signage above the poster collection on the 4th floor.

9/11 Ceremony: The Milwaukee Fire Department raises a flag between two ladders trucks in tribute to those who died on 9/11.

Doors Open MKE: For the first time, WMC becomes a stop in the Doors Open MKE September event. More than 700 people visit during the weekend open house.

USS Milwaukee: WMC is a hub for many of the USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) christening festivities in November.

Granite Bollards: The new markers installed in front of WMC protect the building against traffic and honor our military history.

Gary G. Wetzel Medal of Honor Way: Medal of Honor recipient & Vietnam veteran Gary Wetzel gathers with his family for the street renaming ceremony held in March.

WWII Veteran Lecture: Author Gene Schulz gives a fascinating presentation about bearing witness to the first concentration camp uncovered during WWII.

Latino Veterans Legacy of Valor Project: WWII veteran Jesse Haro gets emotional after being named Latino Veteran of the Year at the second annual celebration.

On May 29, 2015, a beautifully renovated Veterans Courtyard was rededicated and presented to the Milwaukee community. Phase 1 of Operation Renew was a $1.5 million project to restore & renew these sacred grounds.

Ring of Honor: The new granite ring in Veterans Courtyard highlights all military conflicts where Americans have served. The circle represents our military’s never ending commitment to protect our homeland and defend freedom.

Courtyard Flagpole: Donated by the Albert O. Nicholas family, the new flagpole will be used for military events and memorial services. Gold Star Mother Janice Dahlke was the first to raise a flag during the rededication ceremony.

Eternal Flame: The new Eternal Flame and waterfall stands over the most sacred area of the War Memorial. It honors the fallen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year reminding visitors that freedom is not free.

Honor Roll: Surrounding the Eternal Flame, etched in granite are the 3,481 names of Milwaukee county residents killed in action since WWII.

2015

“I am more than a fan. The War Memorial is my favorite

Milwaukee building! Such a potent, poignant statement about war.”

—Tweet from M.L. Schumacher, Journal Sentinel Architecture Critic

New Elements of Veterans Courtyard:

WATCH OUR VIDEO OF THE VETERANS COURTYARD

REDEDICATION CEREMONY

ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

We gratefully acknowledge the following generous donors who supported Operation Renew in 2013-2015:

Albert O. Nicholas

James B. & Lois R. Archer Charitable FoundationBaird FoundationPaul BialkDavid Bishop

Bonau-Whereatt Post #69Joseph F. CampbellChipstone FoundationBill ChristoffersonElizabeth Elser Doolittle TrustDavid and Debra DrentIn Memory of Rose DrentRalph Evinrude FoundationFinnish American Society of MilwaukeeGeorge J. and Anna Clair GasparIn honor of George J. Gaspar – Salvadore J. BalistreriGreater Milwaukee Foundation’s Walter and Olive Stiemke FundEvan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

Toni HollandDorothy Inbusch Foundation, Inc.Jack Norman CateringJohnson Controls FoundationJuneau Wisconsin Post 15In memory of Ib Kildegaard – Laurieann KildegaardLaurieann KildegaardStan KogutkiewiczMiller CoorsMilwaukee Armed Forces CouncilCharles D. Ortgiesen FoundationOyam Community InstitutePark Bank Foundation, Inc.Richard Pieper

Col. Peter & Isabelle PochowskiPPC FoundationJerry & Mary Kaay RobertsSensient Technologies Foundation, Inc.Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Charitable FoundationIn memory of Otto Stibbe - Joyce Stibbe Christine TischerRichard VallinWisconsin Department of Veterans AffairsYontz Valor Foundation84th Division Alumni Association LTD

Friends of the War Memorial and General DonationsWe are grateful for the support of our programs and operations in 2015 from the following donors:Anon Charitable Trust Anonymous donorBadger Detachment #348 Marine Corps LeagueBadger Region, Cadillac LaSalle Club, Inc.George BaldusMichael & Cynthia BalistriereGeorge BandaMichael and Jacqueline BarberSteven BarneyTed and Renee BarthelMichael BerzowskiPaul and Paula BialkDavid and Eva BishopDeanna BraegerJoan BrengelBrenda BrownKathryn BurkeAnthony and Patricia BusalacchiButters-Fetting Co., Inc.Joseph F. CampbellThomas and Nancy CannonWilliam ColemanAllen and Patricia CottrellJanice DahlkeDaughters of the American Revolution, Milwaukee ChapterCol. Gary W. Davis (Ret)In memory of David A. Dean Joseph DeanVADM Dirk and Terry Debbink, USNR (Ret)Donald DennettMichael and Karen DerdzinskiJohn DrentEppstein Uhen Architects, Inc. Michael FarrellDavid and Jane FrankGeorge J. and Anna Clair GasparPeter Gilbert

Robert Goetten and Mary McCormickMichael GoodBill GoralskiWayne and Margaret HaderIn memory of Connie Hatchell Joseph DeanUlis D. and Barbara HekelGordon Henke Family FoundationRoxybelle HeyseToni HollandJohn & Pat HorterLeon and Carolyn HouseDr. Michael and Terry HughesTed & Sharon HuttonDorothy Inbusch Foundation, Inc.Todd JaremkoSandra JenkinsJerome and Judith KaszaKenneth and Christine KielIn Memory of Ib Kildegaard Laurieann KildegaardEdward and Margaret KnopKen & Melinda KreiLouise Ladd-WhitsonStephen LeopoldHolger MachwitzMilwaukee Armed Services CommitteeDetlef MooreTed Moreau, Sr.David and Mary NewellJerry NickelsJim OttPhilip and Jane PapeFrank and Lynn Parker, Jr. William PaulinCurtiss PeckCreamheld PepitoPolish Legion of America VeteransRobert & Mareta PrillRuss Prochnow

In memory of Charles C. Ray Philip & Deanna Alexander In memory of Dr. Richard Rech Veterans Board of DirectorsClayton and Renee RiddleDonald and Sandra RinzelTim SchoessowAlan SchroederFrancie L. Silverman FoundationJoyce A. SmithWally SmithLynn SprangersGerald F. SternStone Golf OutingRobert and Barbara StrzeleckiCOL Warren R. Stumpe, USA (Ret)E.C. Styberg FoundationJohn & Jane ThompsonChristine TischerJerome TutajThomas and Judith VandenboomEmil VlcanskyPhilip and Marilyn VollrathLTC Wayne WinterWisconsin Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Inc.Wisconsin Chapter First Marine Division AssociationYontz Valor FoundationNathaniel ZelazoRobert Zerull

Gary G. Wetzel Medal of Honor Event SupportersAllied Veterans Council of MilwaukeeDonald AlmquistAmerican Legion Post 434American Legion Peter Wollner Post 288American Legion District 2AMVETS Post 4 South Milwaukee

Donald AskenetteDoug BachmannPaul BachmannGeorge BaldusGeorge BandaTim and Kathy BaranzykKelly BellRandy BlanchardJames and Phyllis BlankenheimJoshua BradyBraeger Co. of Wisconsin, Inc. Erik BrooksErnest BruceDan and Patty ButteryJoseph F. CampbellStacy ChapmanRobert ChernowRobbyn and Dale CoombsMarcia CunninghamVADM Dirk and Terry Debbink, USNR (ret)Denise DietscheDisabled American Veterans Chapter 44David and Debra DrentDonald and Colleen DunbarDarcel EhleyJim FerrierTed FettingWilliam Joseph FillicettiFinndrill, Inc. Alvaro GarciaGeorge J. and Anna Clair GasparGarret GenrichPeter GilbertGreen Bay PackersWaylon & Tara GrossKevin HathawayCathryn Hammes In honor of Michael J. Herkowski Alonzo Cudworth Post 23Jerome HardtHouse of Harley Davidson, Inc. Harley Davidson of Central Mississippi, Inc.

Financial Statements

Statistics

Revenue $1,692,280

Attendance 132,724

Expenses $1,604,091

# of Events 902

n Earned Revenue, $984,625

n County Support, $486,000

n Grants, Donations, $221,655

n Personnel, $650,887

n Professional Fees, $106,647

n Facility, $329,753

n Adminstrative and Advertising, $80,684

n Programming and Capital Expenses, $436,120

n War Memorial, 125

n Veteran, 170

n NonProfit, Civic, 467

n Corporate, 17

n Private, 123

n War Memorial, 4,203

n Veteran, 7,034

n NonProfit, Civic, 46,942

n Corporate, 973

n Private, 8,422

n General Public, 65,150

58%29%

13%

49%

7%

41%27%

5%

20%

3%

5%

6%

1%

36%

52%

19%

14%13%2%

“We want to be a national model of excellence.”

Hartlaub Plumbing Heating Cooling & ElectricHorne-Mudlitz VFW Post 6377Mary IngmanMichael IversonRobert Jackson, Sr.Dan and Bonnie JakubczykAria JasonCory and Ashley JasonTroy and Tracy JasonAndrew and Laura JohnsonPatricia JursikSteve KahnkeMike KandzioraKris KarlsonRon LauxMaureen LookCarson LundeMachinery and Welder CorporationMichael MalloyMarcus Center for the Performing ArtsMark and Barb MichieMillerCoors Veterans GroupAlan NamethRamon NavarroJerry NickelsLorraine O’MalleyEdward PalmaPatriots MC Chapter II WisconsinEphigenia & Frederick PorlucasCol. Peter & Isabelle PochowskiBarbara RichwalskiJudith RobertsGerald W RueslerSteve Scaffidi and Catherine RoeskeDon SchambureckDale SchollMichael V. SchumacherJohn ScocosKen SkowronskiArthur SotoSoutheastern WI Chapter Military Officers Assoc. of AmericaStep 1 Environment, Inc.

George and Judy StockampRobert R. StockingerRandolph Strickland, Sr. Bernard TamsettKathi & Mike TomicKirk TopelManuel Torres, Jr.Trawicki ElectricJohn and Nancy UstruckSteve Van ErdenVeterans Board of DirectorsVeterans of America Motorcycle ClubVeterans of Foreign Wars, Cedarburg-Grafton Post 10171Veterans of Foreign Wars, 4th District of WisconsinVeterans of Foreign Wars, Ladies Auxiliary Post 1865 KenoshaVietnam Veterans of America Chapter 324Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 448Douglas and Leilah WardKenneth WalzWar Memorial CenerWauwatosa Lions ClubJohn Weishan, Jr. Greg WilliamsWisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Chapter 1Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Chapter 3Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Chapter 4Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Chapter 5Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, Inc. Chapter 7Wisconsin AMVETS District TwoWisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of AmericaJim WozniakRobert Zillman

freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honor freedom valor heroes sacrifice service operation renew honoroperation renew honor freedom valor heroes

2015 A n n u a l R e p o r tW a r M e m o r i a l C e n t e r

Peter P. PochowskiChairman Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association

Andrew J. Schlidt III Vice-Chairman Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

Toni HollandSecretary Time Warner Cable

Michael BalistriereTreasurer Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Ted J. BarthelWhyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

George J. Gaspar Retired

Ethan D. LenzFoley & Lardner LLP

Leo C. Lesch Waddell & Reed, Inc.

Creamheld PepitoNorthwestern Mutual

Michael N. Pierce Colonel USAF, Retired

Gwen Sheppard Major USAF, Retired

Lynn Sprangers Mount Mary University

John Weishan, Jr. Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors

David J. DrentExecutive Director War Memorial Center

War Memorial Center

Milwaukee County War Memorial, Inc.750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202warmemorialcenter.org

Board of Trustees Vietnam War Commemoration:

50 Years Later The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War

Musical Event on Fitch Plaza

August 4, 2016Save the date to meet the authors of

We Gotta Get Out of This Place Two UW-Madison professors explore how and why U.S. troops turned to music as

a way of connecting to each other and the world back home.

O O O O O O O O O O O O O

Board members who retired during 2015Michael M. Berzowski, Weiss Berzowski BradyRicard T. Vallin, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.Bill Christofferson, RetiredMatthew J. Flynn, Quarles & BradyJacqueline Herd-Barber, Community VolunteerStan Kogutkiewicz, Retired

War Memorial Center